Kalaru local Chris Sparks says he has been waiting six months for errors in his National Disability Insurance Scheme plan to be corrected.
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I'm sick of hearing stories about people having their funding cut.
- NDIS participant Paul Zeller
He was one of several residents to voice their disapproval of issues within the scheme at a day of action held in Bega on Friday.
Ongoing troubles within the NDIS saw participants and supporters across the country use the day to speak up and push politicians for better running of the system.
NDIS participant Dianne Holka said it should be made "fairer for everyone", and better communication channels from the government are needed. "The government has designed it, but they haven't told us how it should be run," she said.
Fellow participant Paul Zeller said while the scheme has helped many residents since since its 2016 roll out in the region, the government needs to adopt "a common sense approach" to how it is run. He said the scheme is both "underspent and understaffed".
"People with disability should have more choice and control, and we should have certainty about funding in our NDIS plans," he said.
"I'm sick of hearing stories about people having their funding cut, or not being able to get the supports they need because there's not enough funding in their plan."
As well as trying to deal with errors in his plan, Mr Sparks said a current National Disability Insurance Agency staffing cap is "inappropriate".
"That is just a dumb system," he said.
Parent Jenny Devine said while she is able to "navigate the bureaucracy" for her children, others are missing out because "it's just too hard".
The Disability Trust's senior manager Lynne Koerbin said political parties should be clear about how they intend to commit to fixing issues.
"After all this time it really should be working better than it is," she said.
Tulgeen Disability Service's CEO Jennifer Russell said more involvement by people with disabilities is necessary.
"At the moment it seems to be full of bankers, so we need to get back to the grassroots."
Bega Valley Shire councillor Liz Seckold, who led the integration of students with disabilities into mainstream Bega High School classrooms 30 years ago, said a lack of resources and funding has always been an issue.
"There's still the problems with funding we had even back in the 1980s," she said.
Eden-Monaro Labor MP Mike Kelly, Liberal Party candidate Fiona Kotvojs and Greens candidate Pat McGinlay were unable to attend due to the candidates forum in Jindabyne, but all three provided statements to organisers.
Mr McGinlay and Dr Kelly said their parties would fully fund the scheme and lift the staffing cap to help meet demand.
"In last month's budget, the government used a $3billion underspend in the NDIS to help generate a budget surplus," Mr McGinlay said.
"This financial sleight-of-hand demonstrates the values of a conservative government that has its priorities all wrong."
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said in his budget speech in April disability support "is a moral imperative", and "it takes a strong economy to fund the NDIS fully and sustainably".
Dr Kelly said the government has "dropped the ball" on the roll out, adding that "mistakes are being made in the planning process, and people are waiting months for urgent changes", and "people with disability are paying the price".
"The staffing cap has forced the NDIA to rely on outsourcing and independent contractors, which is more expensive," he said.
He said with five ministers in just five years, the scheme "has never been a priority" for a government "caught up in chaos and dysfunction".
He said the Labor Party would also allow people to see their draft plans, and provide face-to-face staff to resolve issues.
Ms Kotvojs said she has "spoken to people for whom it hasn't worked well", and said she will "work to address" systemic issues.
"Often because of lack of service providers in, or understanding about, the realities of distance in rural areas. Sometimes because service providers are not doing the right thing or just the tangle of red tape," she said.
She said the party will be setting new standards for time frames around receiving and reviewing plans, and allowing for longer, three year, plans and creating a single point of contact.
Ms Kotvojs said her party will spend $45million on a website and free phone number for users, $2million on autism support and create a seven per cent employment target for people with disability in the public service.